Inklingo

How to Say "home" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “home” is “casa” — use 'casa' when referring to the physical building or structure where someone lives..

casa🔊A1

Use 'casa' when referring to the physical building or structure where someone lives.

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hogar🔊A2

Use 'hogar' to describe the emotional concept of home, emphasizing family, warmth, and a sense of belonging.

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domicilio🔊A2

Use 'domicilio' for the formal or legal place of residence, often required on official documents.

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residencia🔊A2

Use 'residencia' to refer to a dwelling place, often implying a larger or more formal home, or a place where one officially lives.

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natal🔊B1

Use 'natal' specifically when referring to one's place of birth, like 'hometown' or 'native country'.

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nido🔊B1

Use 'nido' poetically to describe a cozy, cherished, and safe personal space, often the family home.

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interno🔊A2

Use 'interno' in technical contexts to mean 'internal', not related to the concept of home.

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English → Spanish

casa

/KAH-sah//ˈkasa/

nounA1general
Use 'casa' when referring to the physical building or structure where someone lives.
A simple, cozy house with a red roof and a small garden.

Examples

Mi casa está en una calle tranquila.

My house is on a quiet street.

Mi casa es tu casa.

My house is your house.

Vamos a casa de María.

Let's go to Maria's house.

Trabajo desde casa.

I work from home.

Using 'a casa' vs. 'en casa'

Use 'a casa' for movement towards home (like 'go home'), and 'en casa' for location at home (like 'be at home'). For example: 'Voy a casa' (I'm going home) vs. 'Estoy en casa' (I'm at home).

Forgetting the Gender

Mistake: “El casa es grande.”

Correction: La casa es grande. Remember that 'casa' is a feminine word, so it uses 'la' and adjectives that describe it usually end in '-a'.

hogar

/oh-GAR//oˈɣaɾ/

nounA2general
Use 'hogar' to describe the emotional concept of home, emphasizing family, warmth, and a sense of belonging.
A cozy, brightly colored cottage with smoke coming from the chimney, surrounded by lush greenery under a soft, warm sky, symbolizing a comfortable home.

Examples

Siempre es bueno volver al calor del hogar.

It's always good to return to the warmth of home.

No hay lugar como el hogar.

There's no place like home.

Creamos un hogar feliz para nuestros hijos.

We created a happy home for our children.

Es un centro de acogida para personas sin hogar.

It's a shelter for homeless people.

Hogar vs. Casa

'Hogar' is about the feeling of home—the family, warmth, and comfort. 'Casa' is the physical building or house. You live in a 'casa', but you create a 'hogar'.

Mixing up 'hogar' and 'casa'

Mistake: “Compré un nuevo hogar con tres dormitorios.”

Correction: Compré una nueva casa con tres dormitorios. You buy the physical building ('casa'), and then you make it a 'hogar' by living in it.

domicilio

/doh-mee-SEE-lyoh//domiˈsiljo/

nounA2formal
Use 'domicilio' for the formal or legal place of residence, often required on official documents.
A charming little house with a front garden and a blue door.

Examples

Por favor, indique su domicilio fiscal.

Please state your tax domicile.

Por favor, escriba su domicilio actual en el formulario.

Please write your current home address on the form.

El sospechoso no se encontraba en su domicilio.

The suspect was not at his residence.

Gender and Number

It is a masculine noun. Always use 'el' or 'un'. To make it plural, just add an 's': 'los domicilios'.

Domicilio vs. Casa

Mistake: “Using 'domicilio' to sound cozy.”

Correction: Use 'casa' or 'hogar' for a warm, personal 'home.' Use 'domicilio' for paperwork, deliveries, or official talk.

residencia

reh-see-DEN-see-ah/resiˈðenθja/

nounA2general
Use 'residencia' to refer to a dwelling place, often implying a larger or more formal home, or a place where one officially lives.
A cozy, brightly colored single-family house with a chimney and a small garden, signifying a place of habitation.

Examples

Su residencia de verano está en la costa.

Their summer residence is on the coast.

Su residencia principal está en la capital.

Their main residence is in the capital.

Necesitamos la dirección de su residencia para enviarle el paquete.

We need the address of your residence to send you the package.

El presidente se mudó a su residencia oficial.

The president moved to his official residence.

Always Feminine

Remember that 'residencia' is always a feminine word, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'la residencia', 'una residencia grande').

Confusing with 'Hogar'

Mistake: “Usando 'residencia' cuando se refiere a un sentido emocional de hogar.”

Correction: Use 'hogar' (home) when talking about the feeling of comfort and belonging, and 'residencia' for the physical location or official address.

natal

/nah-TAHL//naˈtal/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'natal' specifically when referring to one's place of birth, like 'hometown' or 'native country'.
A small, fluffy baby bird sitting comfortably in a round straw nest nestled among green leaves on a tree branch.

Examples

Ella visitó su ciudad natal después de muchos años.

She visited her hometown after many years.

Ella siempre extraña su ciudad natal.

She always misses her hometown.

Regresó a su suelo natal después de diez años.

He returned to his native land after ten years.

El español es su lengua natal.

Spanish is his native language.

One Form for All

This word stays the same whether you are describing a masculine thing (un país natal) or a feminine thing (una ciudad natal). It doesn't change its ending for gender.

Natal vs. Nativo

Mistake: “Using 'natal' to describe a person.”

Correction: Use 'nativo' for people ('él es nativo de aquí') and 'natal' for places or things related to birth ('su ciudad natal').

nido

/nee-doh//ˈniðo/

nounB1informal
Use 'nido' poetically to describe a cozy, cherished, and safe personal space, often the family home.
A cozy, small, rounded dwelling with a thatched roof, nestled among soft green hills, illuminated by warm light coming from a single window.

Examples

Después de viajar, anhelaba volver a su nido.

After traveling, she longed to return to her nest/haven.

Después de la universidad, volví a mi nido familiar por un tiempo.

After university, I returned to my family home/haven for a while.

Este pueblo es mi nido; no importa dónde vaya, siempre vuelvo.

This town is my birthplace; no matter where I go, I always return.

Using 'nido' for any house

Mistake: “Mi nido es grande.”

Correction: Mi casa es grande. ('Nido' implies warmth and belonging, use 'casa' for a neutral building description.)

interno

een-TEHR-noh/inˈteɾno/

adjectiveA2technical
Use 'interno' in technical contexts to mean 'internal', not related to the concept of home.
A cross-section view of a simple, colorful house, revealing a brightly lit, cozy room inside with furniture.

Examples

Hay un problema interno en el sistema.

There is an internal problem in the system.

El motor tiene un problema interno que no podemos ver.

The engine has an internal problem that we cannot see.

La política interna de la empresa cambió la semana pasada.

The company's internal policy changed last week.

Sentí una alegría interna muy grande después de ganar.

I felt a very great inner joy after winning.

Gender Agreement

As an adjective, 'interno' must change its ending to match the noun it describes. Use 'interna' for feminine nouns (e.g., 'política interna') and 'internos'/'internas' for plural nouns.

Confusing Adjective and Adverb

Mistake: “Usar 'internamente' cuando se necesita el adjetivo. (e.g., 'El daño fue internamente')”

Correction: Use the adjective form: 'El daño fue interno.' 'Internamente' (internally) is an adverb describing how an action is done.

Distinguishing 'casa' from 'hogar'

The most frequent confusion for learners is between 'casa' and 'hogar'. Remember that 'casa' refers to the physical building, while 'hogar' emphasizes the emotional feeling of home, family, and comfort.

Related Translations

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